Uncategorized

At KWE, we find that most classic car owners prefer the features of modern in-car audio systems, but not many customers are satisfied with the way modern head units look once fitted.

In cars built in the 90s onwards it is common to have non-standard single DIN units whose apertures, when removed, will not suit standalone aftermarket units. This Jaguar XK8 is a good example of a modern headunit that can’t be retro-fitted with an aftermarket Bluetooth unit.

A Jaguar XK8 modern headunit

While the FM radio facility has not changed much in the last 40 years, the sources of recorded music have. We started with 8 track cartridges followed by cassettes. The digital age produced CDs and devices such as the Apple iPod and MP3 music files capable of being stored on a USB memory stick. Advances in technology now allow drivers to stream directly from a smartphone to the headunit via Bluetooth.

But what if you want to keep the original headunit but have modern music sources, perhaps with mobile phone/Bluetooth connectivity? Below shows an image of an early (pre-HE) XJS. Although it’s possible to fit a new headunit, there’s no direct connection capability and must therefore use a FM signal via its aerial.

An early (pre-HE) XJS headunit

I have experimented with solutions for many years on my own cars, and KWE has delivered a variety of solutions for our clients. I have come to the conclusion that the best overall solution is to store all your favourite music on a smartphone. This can then be streamed to a Bluetooth module, which in turn either transmits to the original car radio’s FM tuner, or can be electronically mixed with a CD changer input.

For a long time I persevered with using USB sticks plugged into either a (modern) headunit’s front panel, or via a lead hidden in the armrest connected to the back of the headunit. However, this presents problems if you’re the owner of more than one car with several memory sticks to keep updated as new music is added to your collection. I ended up then having to carry around a single memory stick and plug it into whichever car I intended to drive.

Another problem is that most head units have quite small displays, and it is difficult and extremely dangerous to attempt to locate a particular track while on the move – not to mention fishing for one’s reading glasses for those of us over a certain age!

An iPod left in the car isn’t particularly useful as the device’s battery tends to run down quickly. What then happens is that the first five minutes of a journey are spent waiting for the iPod to charge up. Further time is then spent selecting an alternative song from the first tune that is automatically selected from your library each time the device is turned on. Leaving the iPod connected to the car’s battery in some way doesn’t offer a viable option either as it simply discharges the car’s battery.

A cassette to audio input adaptor will work surprisingly well with older cars that have cassette headunits. However, this isn’t necessarily the tidiest option as it will leave trailing wires, produce a whirring noise from the adaptor and result in poor audio quality.

Bluetooth streaming gets round all of this by allowing anything with Bluetooth capability to connect wirelessly to your audio system – unfortunately classic Jaguar cars don’t have Bluetooth capability built into the audio units.

The final solution for keeping an original headunit is to fit a Bluetooth adaptor. Most of these older headunits do not have an audio-in jack socket so the only easy way to inject the audio signal is via the aerial.

There are many Bluetooth adaptors around with FM transmitters, and some can be clipped straight onto an iPod’s main connector. However, the quality is often poor so further research is required.

Fortunately the adaptors aren’t expensive – typically £10 – £30 for simple units. Normally there will be a small control unit to allow tuning the device to one of the radio’s pre-set channels, to answer mobile phone calls and to set up the Bluetooth link to your phone or iPod.

With Bluetooth capability, you now have the huge advantage of having all of your music to hand in a smartphone, providing a large screen to make music selection easier. I always use a good quality screen mount for my phone, located near the steering wheel rim.

With smartphone satellite navigation apps being so good these days (Google, Wayz, Sygic) there is usually no need for a standalone satnav unit to be fitted. Furthermore, a satnav app will interrupt your music to announce direction changes, without any extra wiring.

For an even neater installation and perfect audio quality KWE can fit a tiny mixer module into the CD changer input (if present) allowing you to select CD input and listen to either a CD if one is loaded up, or the smartphone if not (or indeed both)!

However, most smartphones don’t have enough memory as standard built-in to house a medium or large music collection, so it may be necessary to purchase a premium phone with a micro SD card such as the Motorola X Force for example.

Finally, here’s a tip on how to update your phone with new music. I have my master collection on a laptop, and use a synchronising programme called GoodSync which will just update new additions to the phone rather than dumping the whole library each time which can take hours.

Stay tuned. Next up we share our thoughts on loud speakers.

As well as upgrading audio systems, KWE provides many additional upgrade options. Check out some of our options here.

While external crash damage to a vehicle is clearly noticeable, other parts are less so and therefore require thorough checks and repairs before a car is deemed roadworthy and safe to drive.

A car’s powertrain comprises several important components that are prone to serious damage if a vehicle is unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident.

In most modern vehicles the powertrain includes the engine, transmission, drive shaft, differential and the final drive. Together, these components transmit the engine’s power through to the road surface.

Our workshop technicians have been kept particularly busy recently with two Jaguars XJSs that were both involved in serious accidents. In each vehicle, part of the powertrain (namely the differential), had suffered serious internal damage.

The differential allows the outside wheels of a vehicle to rotate faster than those on the inside while still transmitting power to both. This is necessary when a vehicle is required to turn, allowing the wheel that is traveling around the outside of the turning curve to roll farther and faster than the inside one.

(This fascinating video from the 1930s explains the principles of the differential gear)

In one vehicle, part of the gearing teeth on the differential had broken off causing a terrible noise as they were caught up in the mechanism; the other caused the limited slip clutches to fail resulting in one of the rear wheels to skid on every corner – unnerving to say the least!

Differential damage can be caused when a car is struck head-on or from the rear. When this happens, and the gearbox is in Park, the only thing stopping the car from moving away is the ‘tyre-wheel-halfshaft-differential-propshaft-gearbox’ chain. Surprisingly, the differential is the weakest link in this chain.

If the gearbox is not in Park, there’s usually enough inertia in the chain to result in damage caused by a strong collision, even before the wheels begin to roll forwards or backwards.

Our advice to you is that if you are aware that an unavoidable rear end shunt is about to happen, apply as much braking as possible while obviously paying due attention to your own personal safety, and to the safety of any passengers. This will, to a certain extent, protect the differential.

If you know, or suspect that your Jaguar XJS has been involved in a collision then it’s essential to have a thorough safety inspection carried out by expert technicians.

For all used classic Jaguar and Aston Martin cars, we carry out a comprehensive two-hour, on-site condition assessment. For more information, visit our website here.

Differing differentials

Unsure of your differential differences? We list the various specifications below, courtesy of jag-lovers.org.

Salisbury 4HU Powr-Lok

From 1976-1985, the differential was a Salisbury 4HU Powr-Lok that came with either 3.07:1, 3.31:1 (1976-1982), or 2.88:1 (1982-1985) ratios.

DANA

From 1985-1987, a 2.88:1 DANA unit was used for the V12. This unit can be distinguished in that the bearings on the output shafts are held in place with three bolts; the differentials both before and after these years have five bolts. It also has no drain plug.

GKN Power Lock

Beginning in 1987, there was a differential referred to as the GKN Power Lock with a 2.88:1 ratio.

Why now’s a better time than ever to source and restore a classic car in the UK

The classic car industry is international, and so are KWE – we’re wherever our clients are. Over the past few years, we have seen a steady increase in the number of international clients. We’re thrilled that our hard work and dedication has resulted in KWE developing its international profile. The secret is out!

The current favourable exchange rates are particularly good news for international customers, whether sourcing a car in the UK or shipping one over for restoration. Post-Brexit, it makes smart financial sense to take advantage of the weaker pound. As Classic & Performance Car reported in July 2016, British classic cars are currently much more appealing on the international market. They’re now approximately 15% more affordable in the U.S. – plus, the exchange rate will effectively pay the cost of shipping the vehicle.

One U.S. customer has already benefitted by at least £1000 due to the pound falling against the dollar. His car was shipped over from New York for a total KWE restoration, before being shipped back for him to enjoy. A second U.S. customer from Chicago requested that we source and build a US-compliant, beefed-up XJS for export to the U.S. – a very exciting project which has had us amping up the power of a classic Jaguar! And a Texan customer has shipped over their Jaguar XJS and Aston Martin DB7 to be restored side by side.

Further afield, we have received an XJS from Australia for a full restoration, and imported several classic Jaguars from Japan. In Japan, they don’t use road salt, and therefore rusting is rare. In addition, the MoT equivalent is much more rigorous than in the UK, resulting in Japanese cars having a virtually perfect body and structure. They therefore make great starting points for creating KWE-upgraded classics.

The Jaguar brand is revered around the globe for the quality of its British engineering and design, so it’s hardly a challenge to sell the virtues of a classic Jaguar abroad – and even less so with the current cost savings! America, Australia, Japan… next stop China?

So, if you’re based outside the UK, now is a very good time to buy a UK classic car!

Are you a true classic car enthusiast? If you can recognise three or more of these tell-tale signs then the answer is probably yes!

1. You’re a member of a classic car club

You enjoy nothing more than socialising with like-minded motor heads. Joining a classic car club gives you an opportunity to celebrate the life of your vehicle, and the pleasure attached to owning it, with people who care. You regularly attend events where you bond over fond memories of your prized possession, exchanging tips on rust prevention and what makes the best chamois leather.

2. You have a boot-load of classic car memorabilia

Christmases and birthdays have become synonymous with receiving classic car-related memorabilia and merchandise in a variety of forms. Your office has become awash with replica models, mugs, stationery, and various other car-related oddities.

3. You have named your car

Your car (an inanimate metal object) has a name. Your vintage vehicle is often mistaken for your significant other, due to the way you like to bring it up in conversation. Someone who isn’t aware of your auto-obsession may not realise that Judy is actually your Jaguar and not your partner. They don’t know that when you say “Judy looked beautiful this morning,” you’re actually referring to your car.

4. You like to pamper your car

You love spending your free time meticulously cleaning your car, top to bottom, inside and out. You clean your vehicle after almost every trip on the open road, carefully polishing its chrome detailing and headlights and shining its alloy wheels. Leaving no stone unturned, you like to ensure your vintage vehicle looks as good as the day it was manufactured.

5. You relish any opportunity to show it off

Whilst in the company of others, you relish the opportunity to show your car off to anyone who’s interested (and perhaps those who aren’t). Some compare you to a proud parent, boasting about your baby and its achievements.

6. Nothing beats sitting behind the wheel

For you, modern cars simply can’t compete and nothing beats the feeling when you are sitting behind the wheel of your classic car. You’ll never tire of hearing the engine roar on the open road!

Feed your obsession at KWE

KWE offers a range of products and services to meet all your classic Jaguar needs. Whether you want to treat your vehicle to a new set of wheels or a full body makeover, we can tailor our skills to meet your requirements. We have become the leading specialist in rebuilding and modernising Jaguar XJ-based cars.

Call us on +44 (0)1635 30030, or visit www.kwecars.com for more information.

Earlier in 2016, KWE reported on the meteoric rise in the value of classic cars in general, and the Jaguar XJS in particular. The XJS has been widely documented as the next modern classic, with prices set to go up year on year.

Knight Frank, ‘The Wealth Report’ 2016

We’re happy to report once more that the Jaguar XJS is continuing to rapidly increase in value, from a slow start up to mid-2015 to a rate of 5-25% a year. The big stars are the rare 6 litre convertibles, and the pre-HE (1975-1980) coupés. It would be fair to say that the XJS is ‘doing an E-Type.’ In other words, as good examples decline in availability, the XJS is becoming very sought-after, with prices soaring due to the investment potential.

Although all examples of the XJS are rising in value, it is not too late to grab one at a reasonable price. However, a good un-restored example that cost, say, £5000 two years ago will now be going for £8 to £10k.

Now’s certainly the time to buy, as we don’t anticipate this trend changing for many years!

If you’d like to stay ahead of the curve, check out our current cars for sale, or contact us by calling +44 (0) 1635 30030 or emailing sales@kwecars.com.

We’ve got our hands on this XJS convertible in Jaguar Crimson, available for sale now.

The car is ready to drive off in, but it could also be upgraded to the full KWE specification, offered at cost price. So whether you want it as is, or would like to see some changes made, this car offers plenty of options!

KWE has already assessed and refreshed the car with our usual attention to detail, carrying out what little maintenance it required. With low mileage and only 3 owners, it’s in excellent condition.

You can read the current specification and see the stunning new photographs here.

KWE has developed a way of repairing the Delanaire Mark 2 aircon servo amplifier. Spares are unobtainable and the amplifier has a limited life. The symptoms of failure of this device are a lack of temperature and air direction control, even though the heating and cooling systems are working.

Similarly, KWE can now replace or repair the Delanaire Mark 3 frost thermostat, which is also unavailable new. This device commonly fails and forces the refrigeration compressor to run all the time. This in turn causes the compressor to fail prematurely and the evaporator matrix to freeze up (like a domestic fridge) and stop air from entering the car. Another symptom is the refrigerant pipes and hoses being covered in frost when the engine is running.

If you’ve been waiting for a solution to these problems, contact KWE to schedule your next service appointment. You can also find out more about the facts, faults and use of Jaguar air con here.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Stay up-to-date with all KWE Car’s latest news, offers, tips and technical info by subscribing to our monthly email newsletter. We promise we will not pass your details on to any third parties, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Enter your email address below to receive our newsletter by email.

About KWE

KWE has become the top specialist in rebuilding, upgrading and repairing Jaguar XJ-based cars including the XJS, DB7 and Series 1/2/3 XJ saloons. We also work with the Jaguar E type, Mark 2, XK8, X300, X308. We are within easy reach of London, the M3, M4 and M40 motorways. We are an engineering-based company where quality is paramount and customer support comes naturally.